Agile Coach

Job Title: Agile Coach/RTE

Location: Hybrid – 2 days per week onsite in Waterford

Contract Type: 12 month contract

Overview

We are seeking a highly experienced and proactive Agile Coach/Release Train Engineer (RTE) to join our client’s delivery organisation, acting as a servant leader to drive alignment, transparency, and continuous flow of value across Agile Release Trains (ARTs). The RTE will play a critical role in facilitating cross-team collaboration, managing PI planning, and optimising delivery flow within a scaled Agile environment.

This role is hybrid, requiring two days per week onsite in Waterford, with the remainder remote.

Key Responsibilities

Programme Increment (PI) Execution

• Track progress on features and epics, identify and resolve impediments, and escalate where necessary.
• Facilitate cross-team ceremonies such as Scrum of Scrums, Team Syncs, and Inspect & Adapt (I&A) workshops.
• Manage and ROAM (Resolve, Own, Accept, Mitigate) PI-level risks and inter-team dependencies.
• Collaborate with Product Management, Architecture, POs, and business stakeholders to ensure alignment between backlog and strategic objectives.

DevOps & Delivery Coordination

• Promote DevSecOps best practices and continuous delivery principles across the ART.
• Coordinate release planning and readiness with Tech Leads, Change Management, and operational teams.
• Define and enforce an ART-level “Definition of Done”.

PI Planning Facilitation

• Support preparation by ensuring teams have healthy, prioritised backlogs and shared vision.
• Align Product Management and Technology stakeholders ahead of planning.
• Manage logistics for PI Planning events and facilitate sessions including agenda-setting, risk identification, and final readouts.

Measurement & Financial Management

• Apply relevant flow metrics to measure and improve value delivery.
• Own financial tracking for the ART including resource allocation and budget alignment.

Coaching and Leadership Support

• Coach Scrum Masters, Product Owners, and teams on Agile and PI planning practices.
• Encourage alignment and collaboration across leadership – Product, Engineering, and Architecture.

Optimising Flow of Value

• Establish ART Kanban boards and flow measures.
• Facilitate value stream mapping to identify and address bottlenecks or delays.
• Proactively identify and reduce cross-team dependencies, working with leadership to improve organisational design.

Required Skills and Experience

• Proven experience as a Release Train Engineer or in a similar Agile leadership role within a scaled Agile environment (e.g., SAFe).
• Strong facilitation, coaching, and stakeholder management skills.
• Deep understanding of Agile principles, DevSecOps, and Lean delivery methodologies.
• Experience in planning and executing large-scale PI Planning events.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• Familiarity with tools such as Jira, Confluence, and Agile planning software.
• SAFe RTE certification is desirable but not mandatory.

Working Pattern

• Hybrid role with 2 days per week required onsite in Waterford.
• Flexibility for remote work for the remainder of the week.